LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS AMONG PATIENTS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AT HARARE CENTRAL HOSPITAL
CHAPTER 2
Literature review
2.0 Introduction
This chapter aims to review different critical texts, or relevant literature from authors who have carried out studies related to, including their findings in life style modification among patients with cardiovascular diseases to gain a broad background or understanding of the information that is available and can be linked to this study
2.1 Background
A cardiovascular disease remains the biggest cause of deaths worldwide. More than 17 million people died from cardio-vascular disease (CVD) in 2008. More than 3 million of these deaths occurred before the age of 60 and could have largely been prevented.
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Urbanization has a negative effect on CVD health. It causes unequal distribution of goods with some areas having substandard housing condition and low health care services, health foods and safe green places for outdoor activity that are free of toxins and pollutants. Crowded city living environments can spread diseases such as rheumatic fever which if untreated may lead to rheumatic heart disease. Also city life promotes sedentary habits because it promotes transport by car rather than by foot or bikes which discourage daily physical activity. City dwellers are more likely to be exposed to marketing schemes and advertisement for unhealthy food, tobacco and alcohol. The life style in cities promotes shunning of tradition cooking and turns to prepared and heavily processed convenience foods that are high in sugars, salts, saturated and Tran’s fats leading to an increase in CVD risk. Gain calories from sugar and fats have become cheaper and more accessible than fruit, vegetables, grains, lentils and …show more content…
In atherosclerosis, fatty material and cholesterol are deposited inside the lumen of medium and large sized blood vessels (arteries). These deposits forms a plague cause the inner surface of the vessels to become narrow, making it harder for blood to flow through. Eventually the plague can rapture, triggering in the formation of a blood clot, if the blood clot develops in coronary artery, it can cause a heart attack, if it develops in the brain, and it can cause a stroke. Risk factors associated with atherosclerosis’ are as follows, tobacco use ,physical inactivity ,unhealthy diet ( rich in salt, fat ,and calories)harmful use of alcohol ,and metabolic risk factors hypertension raised blood sugar (diabetes) raised blood lipids.(Global atlas on CVDs preventition and control